Why Travel Insurance is Important for the Holiday Season

Learn more about partnering with CSA

If your guests haven’t already booked their holiday trips, they will be soon. The bustle around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year make it one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. Inclement winter weather and the increase in flight delays and cancellations around the holidays can create real travel headaches for your guests.

According to AAA, 2015 was the busiest Thanksgiving travel season since 2007 and the number of year-end holiday travelers topped 100 million for the first time. There’s no sign that that momentum will let up this year. Your guests might rest easier during this busy travel time if they have a Guest Protect travel insurance plan backing them up.

Here are some reasons to offer a CSA plan to your guests when they’re booking their holiday travel:

More Flight Delays and Cancellations

Over the 2015 Winter Holiday travel period 26% of flights were delayed and 2% were canceled, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s about 50% more delays and cancellations than usual! A travel insurance plan with coverage for Travel Delay and Trip Interruption can really help travelers during the holidays.

Cold and Flu Season

Cold and flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter, with serious infection starting to spread in October—just in time for holiday travel. CSA’s travel protection plans include a number of coverages and services that could help in case of flu or other sickness.

If an insured or one of their family members or travel companions becomes sick and is unable to travel they could be reimbursed for unused, non-refundable pre-paid trip costs under Trip Cancellation coverage. If an insured traveler picks up a bug from a crowded airport while on vacation they could use the Teladoc service included with CSA’s Guest Protect plan to connect instantly with a network of physicians for information, advice, and treatment, including prescription medication when appropriate. Or, if they need to see a doctor, Medical and Dental coverage is included with the plan.

Winter Weather

56% of travelers have reported experiencing a trip delay or cancellation due to inclement winter weather, according to TripAdvisor. Storms wreak havoc on travel plans, from flight delays to road closures.

When offering travel insurance to clients we suggest using anecdotes to express what could happen to disrupt a trip and how a Guest Protect plan can help in those situations. With a majority of winter travelers having experienced a delay or cancellation of their trip first-hand, they’re probably already well aware of the potential impact of unexpected winter weather on their vacation. You just need to remind them and let them know how travel insurance can help.

Identity Theft

“The hustle and bustle of the holidays creates the perfect environment for thieves bent on stealing your credit cards or other financial information,” said Loretta Worters, vice president, Insurance Information Institute.

Identity theft is something that travelers should be especially wary of, as they’re usually carrying documents, IDs and credit cards in unfamiliar places. Throughout the year, 20% of travelers report that an item with sensitive information has been lost or stolen while on a trip, and chances that a traveler will be pick-pocketed go up when dealing with extra-crowded airports and tourist spots. Also, it’s more likely that busy travelers will connect to unsecured airport WiFi—well-known hotspots for identity theft scammers.

Travelers who buy a Guest Protect plan have access to our Identity Theft Resolution Service* while on vacation and also after their trip, since often times travelers don’t notice the theft until they arrive home. Identity Theft Resolution Service is automatically included for a full 180 days starting on the traveler’s scheduled departure date.

Rental Car Damage and Roadside Assistance

If your client is renting a car or driving their own, keep in mind that the Guest Protect plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage in case the rental car is damaged due to collision, fire, flood, theft, vandalism, windstorm or hail, and 24-Hour Roadside Assistance with services such as towing, battery jump, vehicle extraction, locksmith, flat tire change and fuel delivery.

If you’re a vacation rental manager interested in partnering with CSA to build a valuable and profitable travel insurance program for you and your guests, fill out this contact form or reach out to us at clientservices@csatravelprotection.com or (800) 989-8684.


*ID Theft Resolution does not include assistance for thefts involving non-U.S. bank accounts.

†Teladoc services may not be available in all states, and international services may be limited.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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Best Practices and Tools for Second Chance Travel Insurance Sales

Clients of yours recently booked a trip without a travel protection plan. You mentioned the option of buying travel insurance when they asked what would happen if they needed to cancel their trip, and you reminded them of the cancellation penalties and benefits of travel insurance when you quoted their total trip costs.

The customer may have even said they are certain they won’t cancel, so they don’t need the insurance. In that case we suggest you tell them how the other coverages in the plan can help them: ”Do you know about the additional benefits that come with a travel insurance plan beyond Trip Cancellation coverage? The insurance includes coverages that can reimburse you for certain out-of-pocket costs you might have to pay in case of travel delay, prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs lost due to trip interruption, compensation for lost, stolen or damaged baggage, medical and emergency transportation costs if you get sick or injured on your trip, and more.”

They said they’d think about protecting their trip with travel insurance, but haven’t reached out to you about it.

You know that if you really want to make a sale you have to be proactive. It’s a best practice of our most successful partners to send travelers an email giving them a second chance to purchase a travel protection plan. To make that easy, we have an email ready-made for you to send with a customized button linked directly to your CSA affiliate page.

Second Chance Emails

Click the links below to access a quick form to get your own customized HTML second chance email that you can send to your clients (choose the travel insurance plan types that you offer):

Custom and Custom Luxe

Freestyle and Freestyle Luxe

If you’re not able to send HTML emails to your clients,  you can use the copy below to send them your own text email:

Subject line: There’s still time to insure your trip!

We notice you haven’t added travel protection to your upcoming vacation. There’s still time! We proudly offer coverage through CSA Travel Protection and highly recommend that every traveler purchase an adequate insurance plan for their trip.

[Link to CSA affiliate page and/or phone number to contact your office]

 

Travel Insurance Reminders at Final Payment

If you don’t want to send a separate email devoted just to offering your client another shot at insuring their trip, here is some ready-made copy you can add to follow up emails or final payment reminders:

There’s still time to get travel insurance with coverage that provides reimbursement for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, and more. Call or email us if you’d like to add this to your booking.

 

Protect your trip now. It’s easy to add travel insurance. Just call or email us if you’d like to add this to your reservation.

 

Travel insurance is good to have in case you have to unexpectedly cancel your trip for a covered reason, but that’s not all. What if you become sick or injured on your trip? Emergency Assistance and Transportation and Medical and Dental coverages are part of the insurance, and can reimburse expensive costs you could incur. Call or email us if you’d like to add travel insurance to your booking.

 

* Although travel insurance can be purchased after a trip is booked, some coverages and features may not be included if the insurance is purchased after the initial deposit or final payment.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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Visit CSA at the VRMA National Conference

Learn more about partnering with CSA

An Industry Leader

• 1.8 million policies sold in 2015 and looking to exceed 2 million in 2016

• 1,852 active partners offering our insurance

 

We want to help you grow your vacation rental business by partnering with you to offer your guests travel insurance and damage protection plans.

You can earn commission for plans your guests purchase, which can become an additional revenue stream for your business. Travel insurance can also help reinforce your cancellation policy. Plus, when you offer your guests travel insurance and an unexpected mishap occurs during their vacation that is covered under the plan, you can be part of helping to save the day!

Your business is not focused on travel insurance and it shouldn’t be. So, as your partner and premier provider of travel protection solutions for the vacation rental industry, we’ll keep you up-to-date and informed about the travel insurance industry and offer selling tips, marketing solutions and top-notch customer service.

If you’re attending the VRMA 2016 National Conference we’d love to talk to you in person about how we can help your business. Stop by our booth to play our Spin to Win game*, chat about travel insurance and you could walk away with a $50 gift card!

How can we help your business?

  • Additional revenue stream
  • Seamless software integration
  • Sales and training support
  • Increased guest satisfaction
  • Travel insurance marketing materials

If you’re not at the VRMA Conference, you can still learn more about our travel protection plans and see if your business is the right fit for partnering with CSA.

*While supplies last. Limit one round of spins per person.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

Why Travel Insurance is Important for the Holiday Season

If your travelers haven’t already booked their holiday trips, they will be soon. The bustle around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year make it one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. Inclement winter weather and the increase in flight delays and cancellations around the holidays can create real travel headaches for your customers.

According to AAA, 2015 was the busiest Thanksgiving travel season since 2007 and the number of year-end holiday travelers topped 100 million for the first time. There’s no sign that that momentum will let up this year. Your clients might rest easier during this busy travel time if they have travel insurance backing them up.

Here are some reasons to offer a CSA plan to your clients when they’re booking their holiday travel:

More Flight Delays and Cancellations

Over the 2015 Winter Holiday travel period 26% of flights were delayed and 2% were canceled, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s about 50% more delays and cancellations than usual! A travel insurance plan with coverage for Travel Delay and Trip Interruption can really help travelers during the holidays.

Cold and Flu Season

Cold and flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter, with serious infection starting to spread in October—just in time for holiday travel. CSA’s travel protection plans include a number of coverages and services that could help in case of flu or other sickness.

If an insured or one of their family members or travel companions becomes sick and is unable to travel they could be reimbursed for unused, non-refundable pre-paid trip costs under Trip Cancellation coverage. If an insured traveler picks up a bug from a crowded airport while on vacation they could use the Teladoc service included with CSA Travel Protection plans to connect instantly with a network of physicians for information, advice, and treatment, including prescription medication when appropriate. Or, if they need to see a doctor, Medical and Dental coverage is included with our travel protection plans.

Winter Weather

56% of travelers have reported experiencing a trip delay or cancellation due to inclement winter weather, according to TripAdvisor. Storms wreak havoc on travel plans, from flight delays to road closures.

When offering travel insurance to clients we suggest using anecdotes to express what could happen to disrupt a trip and how a CSA Travel Protection plan can help in those situations. With a majority of winter travelers having experienced a delay or cancellation of their trip first-hand, they’re probably already well aware of the potential impact of unexpected winter weather on their vacation. You just need to remind them and let them know how travel insurance can help.

Identity Theft

“The hustle and bustle of the holidays creates the perfect environment for thieves bent on stealing your credit cards or other financial information,” said Loretta Worters, vice president, Insurance Information Institute.

Identity theft is something that travelers should be especially wary of, as they’re usually carrying documents, IDs and credit cards in unfamiliar places. Throughout the year, 20% of travelers report that an item with sensitive information has been lost or stolen while on a trip, and chances that a traveler will be pick-pocketed go up when dealing with extra-crowded airports and tourist spots. Also, it’s more likely that busy travelers will connect to unsecured airport WiFi—well-known hotspots for identity theft scammers.

Travelers who buy a CSA travel insurance plan have access to our Identity Theft Resolution Service* while on vacation and also after their trip, since often times travelers don’t notice the theft until they arrive home. Identity Theft Resolution Service is automatically included for a full 180 days starting on the traveler’s scheduled departure date.

Rental Car Damage

If your client is renting a car, keep in mind that some of CSA’s travel insurance plans include Rental Car Damage coverage, in case the rental car is damaged due to collision, fire, flood, theft, vandalism, windstorm or hail.

If your clients don’t have coverage for an upcoming holiday trip, it’s not too late! Remember to offer your customers CSA Travel Protection.


*ID Theft Resolution does not include assistance for thefts involving non-U.S. bank accounts.

†Teladoc services may not be available in all states, and international services may be limited.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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